Alto de la Paloma

Alto de la Paloma cycling climb profile

The Alto de la Paloma cycling climb is a short, controlled effort rather than a sustained mountain test. At 4.2 km with an average gradient of 3.59%, it sits firmly in category 4 territory: enough climbing to matter, but not steep enough to force a pure survival rhythm.

The numbers point to a climb where speed and efficiency are more important than simply grinding uphill. Starting at 5 m and topping out at 156 m, the climb gains 151 m overall, which means the road rises consistently enough to reward good pacing, but not so aggressively that it demands a full climbing setup.

How the gradient rides

The key detail is the spread between the average gradient of 3.59% and the maximum gradient of 6.38%. That tells you the climb is generally moderate, with sharper pitches that can sting if you arrive overgeared or already riding above your sustainable power.

On a climb like this, the danger is not the headline difficulty. It is the temptation to treat the lower average gradient like a false flat and ride too hard early. Because the steepest sections are not extreme but are clearly above the average, small surges can accumulate quickly. If you attack every rise, the final part of the climb will feel much longer than 4.2 km.

Pacing and gearing notes

Ride this as a controlled aerobic-to-threshold effort rather than a maximal climb from the base. Settle into pressure on the pedals early, keep cadence smooth, and avoid chasing speed whenever the road briefly relaxes. The fastest ride here is likely to come from limiting power spikes, not from producing one decisive acceleration.

Gearing should be simple: use a cadence-friendly gear before the road reaches its steeper pitches, rather than waiting until the gradient bites. The maximum of 6.38% is not severe, but it is steep enough to punish a rider who insists on pushing a big gear while seated.

For pacing, anchor the effort to your known sustainable power rather than perceived speed, especially because moderate gradients can make the effort feel deceptively easy at first. If you track /glossary/ftp, this is the kind of climb where holding a disciplined effort just below or around your target intensity will usually beat repeated accelerations.

The Alto de la Paloma is not long enough to be a defining mountain climb, but it is long enough to expose poor pacing. Treat it with respect, stay economical, and let the modest gradient work for you rather than against you.